Outcry prompts change in homeless plan

Escondido reverses decision to isolate year-round shelters in small corner of city near San Marcos

A man sits next to his cart in Grape Day Park in Escondido on the morning hundreds of volunteers attempted to count the number of homeless people living in the county in January 2012. North County Times file photo

A man sits next to his cart in Grape Day Park in Escondido on the morning hundreds of volunteers attempted to count the number of homeless people living in the county in January 2012. North County Times file photo

ESCONDIDO  Criticism from residents and community leaders has prompted Escondido to retreat from plans to restrict future emergency homeless shelters to a small corner of the city far from downtown.

A 2007 state law requires cities to begin allowing such shelters to open without public hearings or special permits — but cities are allowed to limit where they can go.

Escondido officials chose a 74-acre somewhat rural zone near the city’s western border with San Marcos, saying no other areas made sense.

Residents and merchants in nearby neighborhoods objected, saying the plan would unfairly force a large portion of Escondido’s homeless problem onto them and potentially increase crime and lower property values.

Homeless advocates also complained that any shelter would be nearly four miles from central Escondido, where most homeless people congregate, receive job training and access social services.

“A small percentage might take advantage, but they’d have to commute for social services and to go to the library and other places...” said Frank Woolridge, leader of nonprofit Empowering the Homeless in Escondido. “The key things they need are to eat, sleep and socialize.”

Dozens of residents and merchants near the designated zone complained about the plan during a Planning Commission hearing last month.

The area designated by the city includes a small business park, a mobile home park and some low-density housing.

This week, Mayor Sam Abed said the city will change course and identify additional areas where shelters can open. He said no specific areas had been chosen, but that the City Council will discuss the issue Oct. 23.

Abed said he changed his mind after meeting recently with San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond and some angry merchants near the city’s western border.

On Friday, residents living in the area hailed the city’s decision to change course.

Janean Huston, leader of the Eden Valley neigborhood just outside both Escondido and San Marcos, said she’s glad the city has realized it would make no sense to have a shelter so far from fast food locations and convenience stores.

“We now feel like we have a voice, even though we don’t get to vote in the city,” Huston said.

Jeff Weber, chairman of Escondido’s Planning Commission, said he’d like to see as much of the city as possible designated for a possible shelter.

“I think it’s a matter of equity that the whole city handle it instead of one small part of town,” Weber said. “It’s not fair to the homeless and it’s not fair to the homeowners in the area.”

Barbara Redlitz, Escondido’s planning chief, said the city first considered a zone near Palomar Medical Center’s downtown campus for the year-round shelter designation, but City Council members ultimately decided that area was too residential.

An annual homeless count taken in January found 172 homeless people living in Escondido.

Homeless advocates have been calling for more year-round shelters in recent years as the nation’s homeless problem has worsened. Most homeless shelters operate only during the colder winter months.

The goal of the state law is making it easier for social services agencies and churches to open year-round shelters, which typically face public opposition.

Every other city in San Diego County has complied with the law except Oceanside, said Eric Johnson, a spokesman for the California Department of Housing & Community Development.